Cramming vintage vitriol exorcised on the likes of _Show No Mercy_ and the best bits off the relentless black metal assault of Marduk's _World Funeral_ into a admirably tidy package is Razor of Occam -- somewhat of a surprise signing for the metal-core obsessives over at Metal Blade, given some of the chug-a-minute dross that's made it on to their roster recently. This quartet originally hail from Adelaide in South Australia, and quickly prove themselves to have been a worthwhile investment as blackened trashing of epic proportions kicks us off on "Altar of Corruption". Guitars are shredded mercilessly, drums kept both technical and groovy and Matt's rasping vocals are delivered with enough venom to scud a bull at fifty paces. It certainly doesn't hurt that the production glistens like a freshly waxed and polished Ferrari; no one instrument overwhelms any other and the kick drum has a muscular thud that is pure poetry in motion. It's all a necessity when colossal, apocalyptic riffs like these are your band's bread and butter and even though toward the disc's latter half Razor of Occam's bag of tricks starts to run a little empty, _Homage to Martyrs_ will undoubtedly come as a very pleasant surprise to many reading this article.